The modern world requires that individuals spend a considerable amount of their available time engaged in the activity of making a living. For most, this means working at a job located at a facility separate from one's home, although increasing numbers of people are telecommuting and working remotely. While it is possible for some jobs, such as manufacturing jobs, to be performed only at one location, many people take work home with them. As it has become possible for people to be "plugged in" to the Internet, "taking work home" now means taking it on vacation, or doing work during hours which used to be available for leisure or other activities. Work is thus taking up increased amounts of time in a person's life than previously. The value and meaning that one attaches to work also becomes paramount to the level of satisfaction that is derived on a personal and professional level. Many individuals base their identities in part-and to greater or lesser degrees, depending on the individual-on the work that they perform. If the work is not meaningful or does not have value, the person's identity and satisfaction is likely to be called into question. If, on the other hand, the person is able to ascribe significant meaning and value to the work being done, satisfaction is likely to increase (Monroe et al, 2000). This research considers the issue of meaning and value in the context of the work environment, and puts forth a personal action plan for increasing that meaning and value.
As children, most of us are raised to derive meaning and value from the frameworks that surround and nurture us. Most often, this includes a Judeo-Christian religious background that places value on altruistic behavior outside a specifically religious context: notice how preschool and elementary school children are taught to share, and learn to avoid those children who do not (Broderick & Blewitt, 2006). Americans in particular are of...